State to Keep Tabs on Its Greenhouse Gases: Climate Registry Covers 31 States

State to Keep Tabs on Its Greenhouse Gases: Climate Registry Covers 31 States

May 10 - The News & Observer

In an effort to get a handle on its contribution to global warming, North Carolina has joined 30 other states as charter members of the Climate Registry to measure and track greenhouse gas emissions.

The registry, a nonprofit organization based in California, will provide a common accounting system for states, businesses and manufacturers to report greenhouse gas emissions consistently across state borders and industry sectors. North Carolina's participation in the program is voluntary.

"Getting accurate data on greenhouse gas emissions is a vital step toward addressing the potential impacts of climate change in North Carolina," Bill Ross, secretary of Environment and Natural Resources said. "The registry provides a way for states to share resources and synchronize our programs."

State air regulators have estimated that North Carolina accounted for 176 million metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions in 2000, about 2.5 percent of the nation's greenhouse gas emissions. But North Carolina's emissions are rising faster than the nation as a whole because of population and economic growth. Gas emissions increased 33 percent from 1990 to 2000, the state report said.

Brock Nicholson, deputy director of the state Division of Air Quality, compared the registry to a bank in which companies can deposit information about carbon dioxide emissions. The motivation for companies and municipalities to do so voluntarily would be to record current emissions in anticipation of future regulations requiring cuts. That way, they could get credit for any reductions they make in the interim.

State environmental regulators do not currently require manufacturers to report emissions of carbon dioxide, the primary greenhouse gas, but plan to start in 2008, Nicholson said.

Carbon dioxide, methane and other greenhouse gases occur naturally. But the burning of coal, oil and gas by power plants, manufacturers and many other sources have caused levels of such heat-trapping gases in the atmosphere to increase significantly in the last 200 years. Scientists are certain that rising concentrations of greenhouse gases will change the planet's climate. They're not sure at what rate the climate will change.

The national registry stems in part from a state initiative, the California Climate Action Registry, operated since 2001 with more than 240 multinational corporations, municipalities and schools participating. Supporters hope the state registry will serve as a model for a national program, if and when the federal government starts trying to reduce carbon emissions.

The new registry's governing board composed of representatives from member states will oversee it. It will begin accepting data in 2008.

Staff writer Wade Rawlins can be reached at 829-4528 or wrawlins@newsobserver.com.

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Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.